What: Open auditions for God of Carnage written by Yasmina Reza and Book of Lizwritten by Amy and David Sedaris at Pentacle Theatre in Salem.

When: 1 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 28; doors will open at 12:30 p.m.

Where:  Pentacle Theatre Lobby, 324 52nd Avenue NW, Salem, Oregon

Casting: Each script calls for two men (Ages 35-65) and two women (Ages 35-65).  Thhe director would like to cast the same four people in each one-act.

Auditions: Actors will read from the script, copies of which are available on loan at the Pentacle Theatre Business Office, 145 Liberty Street NE in downtown Salem for a $10 refundable deposit. Call 503-485-4300 ext. 22 to arrange for pickup.  Those auditioning should bring a list of scheduling conflicts for Mar. 30 through June 20.

Callbacks (if needed):    1 p.m., Sunday, Mar. 29

Pentacle Theatre Rehearsal Studio, Liberty St. NE. Oregon

Read-through: Tentatively scheduled for Monday, Mar. 30.

Rehearsals:  6:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays at the theater’s rehearsal studio. The director will set weekend rehearsals and work sessions as needed.

Show dates:  Friday, May 29, through Saturday, June 20, Wednesdays through Sundays, except during closing week the show will run Tuesday through Saturday.

For more information:  Contact the director, Heather Toller, at gocandbolatpentacletheatre@gmail.com or503-313-9304.

About God of Carnage, by Yasmina Reza and Book of Liz, by Amy and David Sedaris:

Set in present-day New York City, God of Carnage tells a tale of two married couples who meet for the first time after their sons had a nasty schoolyard tangle. Michael and Veronica, whose son’s teeth were knocked out with a stick, invite Alan and Annette, whose son did the knocking, to their home to settle matters—such as who will pay for new teeth. At first, a tense politeness masks underlying tension. But any attempt at having a civilized conversation about whose child is responsible for the fight, and how the parents may have influenced their sons’ destructive behavior, quickly devolves into finger-pointing, name-calling, stomping around and throwing things. Once the dam breaks in this living room-turned-playground, every human frailty is revealed as each character comes under pressure to perform, conform or stand up.

In The Book of Liz, Sister Elizabeth Donderstock makes cheeseballs—traditional and smoky—that sustain the existence of her entire religious community, Clusterhaven. Sister Elizabeth feels unappreciated among her cloister, so she decides to try her luck in the outside world. Along the way, she meets a Cockney-speaking Ukrainian immigrant couple who find her a job waiting tables at Plymouth Crock, a family restaurant run almost entirely by recovering alcoholics. The alcoholics love Liz. The customers love Liz. Things are going great for Liz. That is, until she’s offered a promotion to manager. Unfortunately, Liz has a sweating problem, and to get the job, she’ll have to fix it. Meanwhile, back at Clusterhaven, Liz’s former superfluity just can’t seem to duplicate her cheeseball recipe, and it’s going to cost them their quaint, cloistered community. The nuns are panic-stricken and desperate, and sure Liz sabotaged the recipe. Does Liz go through with the operation? Will the cheeseballs ever taste the same again?

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